A time for reflection....

One year ago today I started my new life. I underwent gastric bypass surgery and began my journey to where I am today. Life for me prior to surgery was not pretty.... -I weighed 292 pounds and wore a size 24 pants and XXL t-shirt. -My back hurt -(alot!!)- and all of the time. -I had constant heartburn. -By the end of the day, I could hardly walk from my car to my front door because my feet hurt so bad (plantar fasciitis). -I lived on Advil and Aleve. -I was always tired. -I was always sweating - even in the middle of the winter. -I had high blood pressure. -I had borderline diabetes. -I was sick all of the time. -I never wanted to go anywhere or do anything. -I was afraid of what people thought of me. -I was so unhappy with life in general. What a difference one year makes.... -I now weigh 167 pounds (7 to goal)and wear a size 10 or 12 pants and a medium or large t-shirt. -My back very rarely (if ever) hurts. -Heartburn was eliminated during surgery (they fixed my hiatal hernia). -My feet do not hurt anymore at all. -Very rarely do I ever take even Tylenol. -My energy is generally very good. I do not tire easily at all anymore. -I am cold all of the time - what a switch!! -Blood pressure is normal, and my sugar levels are perfect. -I have not been sick since one year ago in November. -You can't keep me at home now. -While peoples opinions of me do matter, my opinion of myself matters much more. -I am happier than I have been in years! To have this surgery was a blessing for me. I know that there are people out there that have had alot of problems, and I truly do feel so bad for them, but for me, this surgery has saved my life. I have gained so much that I did not even realize I was missing. I have gotten my quality of life back. For that, I will always be thankful, and I will always be grateful. Jessica P. LapRnY 12/08/03 (292/167/160)

soooo awesome!!! Yeah I hate that COLD thing!!! I now own 4 prs of LONG JOHNS!!! I think I need to buy those battery powered winter socks!!!! ;) Isn't being without heartburn WONDERFUL?!?! We are all winners in this journey!! I am sooo proud to tell anyone that asks how I lost my weight (except my in law relatives) --total strangers even!!! I got my driver license renewed last weekend and the lady commented how I had lost weight...I had to tell her how many pounds and what I did!!! I am tickled to bits about this whole process.